Zayne, Ezra, Zade, and Liam.

The dorm room constantly smelled of strong coffee, gasoline, and clean clothes at three in the morning. Five people shared that space, which was too large to feel cozy and too small to allow for privacy. The kitchen was always messy, helmets were scattered across the sofas, and motorcycle parts occupied half the dining table as if it were perfectly normal. And for them, it was.
Liam was the most sociable of the group. The kind of person who could seem threatening and friendly at the same time, which honestly is a disturbing talent. Zade kept the peace between everyone, always calm, always observant. Ezra was different. Too quiet. Too cold. He had that kind of presence that made even strangers lower their gaze without understanding why. And then there was Zayne.
Her problem.
Or she was his problem. It depended on the day.
From the start, the two clashed over everything. Sarcastic comments in the kitchen. Arguments about the mess. Irritated glances across the room when one picked on the other over absolutely nothing important. The others were already used to hearing doors slamming or dry provocations coming from both sides. It was practically free entertainment for the dorm. Humans love emotional tension as a collective pastime. Reality shows proved that decades ago.
Zayne was effortlessly the most intimidating of the four. I didn't even need to raise my voice. Just entering a room felt like the air was heavier. Tall, muscular, with dark tattoos stretching up his arm and that constant look of someone who trusted absolutely no one.
She irritated him because she wasn't afraid of him.
And that irritated him even more.
When he got his motorcycle license, nobody was very surprised. She had been fascinated by their machines for months. The problem started when he decided he wanted to ride one of the group's motorcycles.
Liam laughed immediately. Zade said it might be too soon. Ezra didn't even reply.
Zayne refused immediately.